Following And Private Blogs

A frequently seen sign of confusion, in Blogger Help Forum, is the connection between Following and Private blogs (blogs designated "Only people I choose").

If I make my blog private, will people still be able to follow my blog?

Like many Blogger Help Forum questions, this one suffers from a significant amount of ambiguity.

There are several details, relevant to the above question.

• Classically, people were said to "follow" a blog when they would periodically view it online, and / or view its contents using a newsfeed reader. People designated as Readers will be able to view a blog in the browser, though new posts won't be visible in a newsfeed reader.
• Blogger recently developed the Following program, to involve
  • Use of the newsfeed, automatically added to a Dashboard Followers Reading List, and Google Reader.
  • For blogs displaying the Followers accessory gadget, the ability to, temporarily, have ones icon displayed in the Followers gadget.
  • For blogs displaying the Followers accessory gadget, the ability to surf to others profiles, and from there to blogs published and read by the various Followers.
• The term "will be able" also deserves mention, as many blogs, recently made private, can still be viewed in the browser, and cached feeds can still be viewed in a newsfeed client.

Since right now, "private" blogs won't publish newsfeeds, the current literally correct answer to the above question is

No, people cannot Follow a private blog.

But (and there is always a but)

• Blogs made private can still display a Followers gadget, and people can have their icon displayed in the gadget. If having your picture displayed on somebodys blog satisfies you, then you may be happy Following a private blog, for a while.
• People can continue to read what's cached by their browser, and they will continue to generate hits in your visitor log.
• Some people will be able to view new posts in their browser, even if not designated as Readers.

>> Top